7/1/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
Annual reports detailing the quality of drinking water provided on Lackland and the Lackland Training Annex were recently released by base officials stating that drinking water on base meets Environmental Protection Agency requirements and is safe to drink.
"We continually ensure that the drinking water is safe for potable use by our customers on base," said Lt. Col. Richard Bert, the 559th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Bioenviromental Engineering Flight commander.
He said though the report is required annually, water is tested throughout the year to ensure customers are receiving the highest quality water.
Each year bioenviromental engineering is required by the EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to conduct separate water sample analyses and testings of the two locations and provide separate Consumer Confidence Reports to consumers.
Two reports are required annually because each location is served by different water distribution systems.
According to the report, very small levels of contaminants were found in the drinking water on Lackland and the Lackland Training Annex.
The report pointed out, however, that some contaminants are naturally occurring in the environment and all drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.
According to Bert, the presence of these contaminants does not indicate that the water poses a health risk. The bacteriological samples taken from Lackland and the LTA are collected by bioenviromental engineering technicians and the samples are analyzed by a state-certified laboratory and validated by the TCEQ.
For all other parameters, a contractor authorized by TCEQ collects the samples and has them analyzed by a state-certified lab.